In the 18th century, the British artist Mary Delany (1700-1788) created over 1,000 botanical decoupages, at the age of 72. The ten volumes of collages which are part of the British Museum’s collection is known as the Flora Delanica. Her works combine artistic talent and scientific enquiry as an example of the visual history of botany.

Museum for Papirkunst is collaborating with the British Museum on this exhibition, which is the only venue in Denmark to show Mary Delany's works during the exhibition period. The exhibition presents 50 of Delany's most iconic works in a contemporary setting that highlights her techniques and artistic vision. The spectacular paper works, that are too fragile for public display, are made accessible to the public in the form of stunning large-format photographs.

Through Delany's florilegium, we meet an extraordinary woman at this crucial historical period known as the Enlightenment. Delany's technique is truly unique – she strove to create realistic collages of the plants, and the result is very realistic, even though they are simply made of paper. Delany was able to cut wafer-thin tissue paper by eye – which she sourced in all hues and shades – and only rarely used preparatory drawings to plan her designs. Sometimes using around 200 paper petals per flower. Nearly every collage includes a label with the plant’s Latin and common name.